The extradition hearing for an Ottawa university professor accused of a deadly Paris terrorist bombing has been delayed again after France disavowed the evidence of two handwriting experts discredited by defence witnesses.
Instead, federal Crown prosecutors now plan to introduce evidence from a third, new French handwriting expert who found their was a “very strong presumption” Hassan Diab is the author of a hotel registration card linking him to the 1980 bombing of a synagogue that killed four.
Diab’s lawyer, Donald Bayne, called the “11th hour” move “absolutely scandalous.” Bayne said Diab has not yet seen the new report, which is entirely in French and has yet to be translated.
A three-week extradition hearing for Diab, who was first arrested in November 2008, was scheduled to begin June 14.
It now appears highly unlikely the extradition hearing will begin, although legal arguments are expected to be made the week of June 21.
This is not the first time that the actions of French authorities have disrupted the extradition process surrounding Diab.
Bayne has previously slammed Paris for dragging its feet after the French government asked for a delay the date of the extradition hearing while justice officials in Paris gather more evidence.
Diab, who wears electronic monitoring equipment that costs him $30,000 a year, was born in Lebanon, but obtained Canadian citizenship in 1993.
Aside from electronic and satellite monitoring, Diab must not leave his home unaccompanied and must live with his common-law spouse, Rania Tfaily, at her Ottawa residence. He may only leave her house for work, legal or medical appointments and for those appointments he must be accompanied by Tfaily.
